Cattle sheds to be moved out of city by January 31

The government has given additional one month to comply with the notification, reports Urvi Jappi.

An officer of the Maharashtra government told the Bombay high court on Thursday that all the cattle sheds (Tabelas) in the city will be moved outside the city limits by the end of January.

The Chief Operational Officer and Aarey Milk and Cattle Controller, who was summoned by the Bombay High Court, told the court on Thursday that a government notification was issued by the Maharashtra government in July 2006 directing all the concerned agencies to move the cattle sheds outside the city limits within six months.

The government has given additional one month to comply with the notification. As per the notification, all the cattle sheds are to be moved by January 31, 2007.

A division bench of acting Chief Justice HL Gokhale and Justice VM Kanade was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by BGO Janhit Manch seeking that the cattle sheds in the city be shifted outside the city as they do not maintain hygiene and also that the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) do not take any action.

On Wednesday, the court had summoned competent officer from the Maharashtra government to remain present in the court on Thursday to explain the government's stand on cattle sheds and also on the sewerage treatment plant.

Aarey Milk Colony being the biggest government undertaking since 1950 should have sewerage treatment plant of its own, observed the bench.

Till the time the cattle sheds are shifted, the HC has asked the Maharashtra government to set up necessary pollution control mechanism to maintain hygiene in and around the area where these sheds are located.

The court has asked the government to file affidavit on the compliance of its own notification and also on pollution control mechanism by February 22.